Russia Extends Aleppo Ceasefire, Hasn’t Struck in Nine Days

Much was made of Russia’s initial eight hour ceasefire, extended to 11 hours and eventually several days, expiring earlier this week, Russian officials, however, say they have not conducted any airstrikes since, and that they consider the moratorium on strikes extended, with no end date announced.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights confirmed that strikes had been launched against the rebels by someone, but seemed to back up the Russian claim, noting that not a single civilian death had been reported from airstrikes in Eastern Aleppo in some time.

Russia initially announced the ceasefire with an eye toward convincing moderate rebels within Aleppo to separate themselves from Nusra. They also encouraged civilians to evacuate the area, though the UN has been unable to get rebel support for an evacuation and thus been unable to do it in any organized fashion.